The Manhattan Dress

This post is part of a month long series called 'Pattern Makeover Month.' I took a simple pattern (The Sweet Dress by Leila and Ben) and 'made-it-over' into many different styles. For more information, go here.

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Cut and sew the dress as directed in the pattern stopping after your neck and sleeve casings are sewn.

For the ruffle, cut a strip that is two times as long as the length of the dress, neckline to hemline. The width is five inches for sizes 4T and up. For size 12M and 2T I would cut 3 inches. Size 3T would be 4 inches.

Finish the edges of the ruffle with a rolled hem serged edge or a rolled hem. Gather down the middle of the ruffle. Iron a crease in the middle front of your dress. Stitch the ruffle down the middle starting at the casing stitch line and ending at the bottom hem. Attach a button and voila!

(Top picture by Brooke Reeves Photography)